Colin Forbes - By Stealth

`We're flying due west?' Tweed checked with the pilot.

`Not quite, at the moment. We've been routed more north-west for the moment. We're passing over the Farum area down there. Soon we turn south and then due west.'

They flew over a stretch of sparkling sea which the pilot said was the Store Belt. Ships cruising north and south were crystal clear with their pure white wakes. They crossed another large island, Funen, then a brief stretch of narrow sea and land reappeared. The pilot said they were now over Jutland.

`Thank God!' said Newman. 'As soon as we arrive I'm hiring a car from Avis. They have an outfit in Esbjerg. Then I'm driving immediately south to contact Marler. I want to know if he's had any success.'

`I agree,' Tweed replied. 'You have the phone number of my hotel, Also Anton Norlin's number. I insist you keep me up to date. That's a direct order.'

Newman then realized Tweed was as worried about Paula as he was. Studying the landscape had been a way of distracting his mind from this extreme anxiety. But would they be able to find Paula in time?

Marler was searching for Butler. He drove through Tinglev and headed for the track where he had last seen him. As he turned on to the track and drove past the copse of trees an extraordinary sight opened up. He parked, jumped out of his car.

Butler was hauling a thin, scrawny man attached to a rope out of the marshes. The apparition was coated with slime up to his throat. Giving one mighty heave, Butler hauled the man on to firm ground, dropped the rope, turned to Marler.

`I made him talk. He nearly went right under, the bloody fool.' knows where she is?' Marler asked quickly.

`No, but he's told us where he dropped Dr Hyde, haven't you, Johnny?' he asked, addressing the sorry figure lying on the ground.

`Yes… I told you… for God's sake…'

Tor God's sake get out of those clothes,' Butler retorted. 'I have a new outfit you can put on. Too large, but it's clean.'

Butler ran to the Volvo, returned with a pair of denims, a flannel shirt, and a windcheater. He threw them down next to Clausen together with a box of paper tissues. The Dane clambered to his feet, stared at his muddy hands.

`Clean them up as fast as you can, get into those fresh clothes. You've got two minutes.'

Butler waved the Walther towards him. Clausen, shivering in the cold wind, performed a quick-change act. Butler gathered up the discarded clothes, rolled them into a bundle and threw them into the marsh. He took out a map. `Now, show my friend where you dropped Dr Hyde.'

`Here.' Clausen pointed with a grubby finger. Butler marked the spot with a cross. 'In the middle of nowhere,' he continued. 'A green Renault was parked further up the road. My passenger stood in the wind until I'd almost driven out of sight back towards Tonder. Then, in the rear-view mirror, I saw him walking to the Renault, which had another man behind the wheel.'

`You're doing well, Johnny,' Butler said ironically while Clausen used tissues to wipe mud off his neck. `But you took your time.'

`You nearly killed me. Another few seconds and I'd have gone under that bloody swamp.'

`You would,' Butler assured him. Normally laconic, he was speaking fast. He moved closer, touched the side of the Dane's head with the muzzle of the Walther. Clausen froze. Butler's next words were delivered in a grim tone.

`One more thing. You don't tell anyone about what happened here. Not anyone. Not for three weeks. We have reliable informants in the area. I hear you've dropped one wrong word and I'll be back. You'll get a bullet in the back of the neck.'

`The money-' Clausen began.

`Oh, you get that at the end of the three weeks. If you are still alive. When we've gone, wait five minutes, then drive home. Those clothes are a lousy fit. And you've still got mud on your face, neck, and God knows where else. Your story is you were out here with a girl. You were drunk, fell into the marsh. This will back up your story.'

Butler produced the bottle of gin he'd used earlier on himself. He poured a small quantity down the front of Clausen's outsize windcheater. `And, Johnny, don't have second thoughts,' Butler warned menacingly. 'They could be the last ones you ever have…'

He agreed to follow Marler back off the track, got behind the wheel of his own Volvo, drove slowly as Marler reversed on to the road. They were approaching the outskirts of Tonder when Marler signalled to park at the roadside while they were still in open country.

Butler left his car, joined Marler in the front passenger seat. Marler had driven fast and now he spoke fast.

`Let me look at that map you marked with a cross where your Johnny dropped Dr Hyde. I only peeked over your shoulder.'

`This is interesting,' he commented. 'I drove through Hojer and turned north. Then I turned west at an intersection in the wilderness. Johnny dropped Hyde close to that some intersection. I couldn't find anything. We'll drive back to my lodging house at 'Fonder – in case there's a message. I just hope Paula is still all right…'

`She is asleep, Ilena. That is helpful. We can make our final preparations now.'

`You want bowl of hot water?'

`Not yet.' Hyde sounded testy. will tell you what is required when it is required. Clean this floor again with that vacuum cleaner. Sand has penetrated from outside.'

Paula, stretched out on the couch, had her eyes shut but was wide awake. She compelled her whole body to remain relaxed, to give no indication that she was fully conscious. Listening but not seeing was a horrible experience. Her imagination worked overtime.

She heard the purr of the vacuum cleaner as Ilena obeyed Hyde's instruction. She heard the familiar snap as he opened his bag. A minute or so later there was a tinkle. He was carefully laying out his scalpels in the correct sequence.

She'd had her eyes wide open just before the sound of the key being inserted in the door behind the wooden platform at the top of the steps. The platform had a single wooden rail, thigh high to guard against someone falling over the edge.

It was still daylight but the light was fading. The wind was still blowing and as Hyde continued arranging his instruments there was a banging sound. The shutter had come loose again. They had switched on the fluorescent strip when they entered – and this made keeping her closed eyes still more difficult. Hyde swore foully.

`You stupid cow! You still haven't fixed that damned shutter. Do I have to do everything for myself?'

Obviously, Paula thought vaguely, Hyde had forgotten that Starmberg was the one who had most recently attended to the closing of the shutter. As the vacuum went on purring she heard the scape of the chair across the floor. Hyde was about to stand on it to fasten it once more.

`Your clumsy fingers!' Hyde railed as Paula heard again the chair creaking, protesting under the weight of a human being standing on it. Human being? she thought. That was a misnomer if ever there was one – Hyde was a monster.

There was another bang as Hyde pulled the shutter closed, then the scraping of metal as he struggled with the catch. Hearing – not seeing – was becoming unbearable. Paula gritted her teeth, heard the chair being pushed back into its position against the wall.

The purring of the vacuum cleaner stopped. There was a forbidding silence. She might have been alone for a few brief seconds. Then Hyde spoke.

'Take that thing away. Prepare the bowl of hot water. It must be boiling hot for sterilization of my instruments.'

The heavy clump of Ilena's elephantine footsteps mounting the stairs. The door opening, closing again. She was now alone with Hyde. Thin talon-like fingers grasped her by one arm, shook her vigorously. She opened her eyes slowly. Dr Hyde was smiling down at her.